Casing collar for cementing wells



July 7, 1953 F. H. LEE 2,644,526

lCSING COLLAR FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed April 4, 1947 Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STA' @par orifice CASING COLLAR FR CEMENTINGl WELLS Application April 4, 1947, Serial No. 739,272

(Cl. 16B-l.)

16 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for cementing casings, liners and similar conduits in well bores.

Apparatus for cementing a string of casing, or a similar conduit, in a well bore may include a collar having side ports which are initially closed by an internal sleeve valve to enable fluids to be pumped downwardly through the casing and its collar without discharging through the side ports. When the ports are to be opened, a suitable device is pumped, or allowed to gravitate, down the casing string into engagement with the sleeve valve to close its central passage and allow hydraulic pressure to shift it to open position, whereupon the nuds may be pumped outwardly through the open ports.

For the purpose of preventing return flow of fluids, such as cement slurry, through the ports into the casing, a suitable back pressure valve is usually placed on the exterior of the collal1 over the ports. While this back pressure prevents return flow of iiuids into the casing, it does not serve to prevent fluids from passing from the interior of the collar through the ports to the exterior of the collar, which is a desirable feature in some well bores.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for positively preventingr passage of iiuids from the interior of the casing string, or its collar, to the exterior thereof after the inner sleeve valve has been shifted to port opening position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device for positively preventing passage of fluids through side ports in a collar in both directions after the inner sleeve Valve has been shifted to port opening position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a side ported collar device embodying a sleeve valve for initially closing the ports against passage of uids from the interior of the collar to the exterior thereof, and also having a back pressure valve adapted to be disposed over` the ports to prevent return flow of fluid into the collar, in which a device is employed for protecting the back pressure valve against damage, and which is also capable of serving as a positive valve closure element for preventing iiuid iiow from the interior of the collar to its exterior after the sleeve valve has been shifted to f port opening position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a side ported device, embodying both inner and outer ports, in which the outer ports can be closed against fluid flow in both directions..

A of the collar.

This invention has other objects and aspects which will become apparent from a consideration of the embodiment shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described indetail, but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limited sense since the scope of the invention is best deiinedA by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a combined longitudinal elevational and sectional view of the apparatus, with the parts in their initial relative positions for running in a well bore.

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal section, disclosing the partsv in the positions they occupy upon opening of the side ports through the apparatus for the'purpose of permitting fluid iiow between its interior and exterior.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, disclosing the parts in positionl for preventing lateral iiuid ilow in either direction' between the interior and exterior of the apparatus.

In the iorrn of the invention disclosed in the drawings, a collar A constitutes part of a string of casing by connecting upper and lower casing sections B, C in longitudinal spaced relation. Although specific reference is made in this specincation to casing and a casing string, it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to other specic uses, as, for example, in connection with liner and other conduit strings positioned in well bores.

The collar A includes an upper outer tubular member' l having an upper threaded box Il adapted to be secured to the upper casing section B and also a lower inner tubular member l2 having a lower threaded box i3 adapted to be secured to the lov/'e1n casing section C. As speciiically disclosed in the drawings, the lower tubular member l2 includes an upper section i201, and a lower section l2b threadedly secured together to achieve economy in manufacture, and facility in assembly of certain parts of the device. In the operation of the device, however, these sections ld, lib function as a unit.

lThe lower section l 2b of the lower member has a plurality of circumferentially arranged side ports lll through its side wall through which iiuid may be pumped between the interior and exterior against passage of fluid from the interior of the apparatus to the exterior by disposing a sleeve valve I5 thereover. As speciiically disclosed in the drawings, such sleeve valve may consist of Initially, these ports are closed an upper section I a carrying side seals I6 in external grooves I 'I and disposed on opposite sides of the ports I4 to prevent leakage of fluids between the lower member I2 and the sleeve valve in either direction. The upper section I 5a is also provided with a suitable shoulder I8 adapted to engage a companion shoulder I 9 formed in the lower member I2 for the purpose of preventing upward travel of the sleeve valve I5 within the lower tubular member. upper sleeve valve member I5a is prevented by its resting upon a lower va'lve-.rin'gvIBb vhaving a circumferential groove adaptedto .receive one or more shear screws 2|...thre'aded .throughthe lower member I2.

Return flow of fluids through the inner set of ports I4 is prevented by a backf'pressure Valveiin the form of a rubber sleeve 22 disposed over the ports, with its free end 23 located a substantial distance below the ports. .The otherupper end 'i of thev rubber valve issecured to the lowermember I 2` inanysuitable fashion', as, by means of the' interlocking'flanges 24,' 25 onthe sleeve 22 and lower tubular member'l2. and by a suitable strap 2B clamped around'the upper end of the rubber member. This sleeve'valve 22 may flex outwardly under the. action ofuid under pressure'owing through the'ports III to' permit the fluid to discharge from its lower'freeend 23 and then pass outwardly of the collar device.

After passing"outwardlythroughthe ports I4, the fluid preferably'flows through aplurality of circumferentially spaced outer ports 2'I formed between the lower member I2'and a rigid sleeve 28', ofA suitable' material such as steel. disposed completely around: the rubber sleeve valve 22 and the inner ports I4 and secured to the upper outer tubular member I0 in any suitable manner, as by theuse of welding material' 29'. This sleeve 28 is spaced laterally from the rubber sleeve valve 22 to permit outward flexing and opening of the latter, extending downwardly for'. disposition over an enlarged portion on the lower member I2,

having a plurality of grooves 3D formed therein which are inclined to a-substantial extent from the vertical, but still disposed vpredominantly in a downward direction. .The lower .end 3I of the outer sleeve 28 is initiallydisposed part way over the grooves 3i) toform, in effect, a. plurality of passages, .ports or nozzles 2 l., throughwhich fluent substances. pumpedthrough. the inner ports I4 can pass and be given a whirling motion, which is advantageous inassuringthe obtaining of uniform disposition ofcement around-.the collarand thecasing string.

-leakproof relation. The initial position between the upper and lower tubularmembers I0', I2 is determinable by a suitablestop ring 36 secured .within the outer sleeve 28, as by the use of plug welds 3l, such stop ring engaging the end38 of the upper section I2a of the lower tubular member. I2 and disposingthe lower end 3| of the sleeve 28 part way over the inclined grooves 30 in order to provide the proper nozzle effect on the fluid issuing therefrom.

Downward travel of the head 3| engages theseatn39, the inclined grooves or whirler ports 30 will be closed against passage of fluids in both directions, and, as assurance against such passage of fluids, a suitable lead. seal ring` 4G may be provided in the seat adapted to be engaged by the head end 3i of the :sleeve 28 in'order to be wedged firmly thereagainst.

The collar device is assembled in the manner :disclosed in Fig. 1, in which the inner sleeve valve I5 is disposed in closed position over the ports I4, being held in such upper position by the frangible pins or shear screws 2l engaged within the groove 20'ofitslower ring' I5b'. The upper outertubular member Il? occupies :an` upper position. with. respect to the lower tubular member I2 tolfdispose the head end SI of .the outer sleeve. 2.8above the valve seat 39 and .above thev llower .end of. the grooves 33 in order that the external whirler ports or passages'Zl are open. Such position may be determined by engagement of the stop ringV 35 with the lower end 38 of the upper tubular sec- `tion I2a.

' The collar A is connected to the upper and' lower casing section B, C and theentire casing string is lowered in the wellibore until the location has been'reached inrwhichthe'casing. isv to be celmented in place. 'The iirst batch of .cement slurry may then be pumped downwardly through the casing string, passing through the sleeve valve I5 and through the lower section of the casing C Vuntil its discharge at some'lower point in the casing string, as, for example, from a casing shoe (not shown) after which the cement slurry will travel through the annulus around the lower casing sections toward the collar A.' Following the displacement of thelower'chargeofl cement slurry, a suitable trip-ping device, such as a heavy ball 4I, may be allowed to gravitate downwardly through the fluid in the wellcasing into engagement with a companion seat 42 in the sleeve valve I5, closing the central passagethrough the latter and allowing the pressure ofV the fluid in the casing and collar thereabove to be'increased sufliciently to shear the screws 2I and force the sleeve valve I5 and ball 4I downwardly to a position determined by engagement of the sleeve valve with a suitable stop, such as supplied by the upper end of the lower casing section C, in which position the sleeve valve I5 is disposed below the ports I4 in order to allow iiuid to pass outwardly therethrough (see Fig. 2). Circulating fluid, followed by the desired quantity of cement slurry, may now be pumped directly into the casing, passing .outwardly through the open ports I4,

. flexing the rubber back pressure valve 22 outwardly, and passing down through the annulus 43 between the outer sleeve 28 and the lower member I2 for discharge through the whirler ports 2'I, thence flowing upwardly through the annulus around the casing and the upper casing sections. After the required amount of cement slurry has been so discharged through the side ports I4 and whirler.ports 2l of the collar, the pressure at the surface of the well may be bled off and the rubber sleeve Valve 22. allowed to seal back over the ports I4 to prevent .return flow ofthe cement slurry through them into the collar and casing.

After the cement slurry has been displaced through the collar, the portion of the casing string running from the upper tubular member l0 to the top of the well-bore may be rotated to the right for the purpose of threading and telescoping the upper tubular member IG down along and over the lower tubular lmember I2, shifting the outer sleeve 2S downwardly into rm sealing engagement with the seat 39 and lead seal ring lie in the lower member, closing oiT the ports 21 in the collar against passage of 'fluids in either direction between the interior and exterior oi the casing string (see Fig. 3). Such rotation of the upper portion of the casing string and upper tubular member lil may occur immediately after displacement of the cement slurry, or at any reasonable time thereafter, since the back pressure valve 22 will prevent return flow of cement slurry into the casing.

ment, as well as during the pumping of circulat- L ing fluid prior to such discharge for appropriately conditioning the well bore. The fluid will issue through such ports 2l in a direction inclined to the vertical and substantially tangent to the collar for the purpose of washing drilling mud from the wall of the formation and thereby assist in conditioning oi the bore hole. The whirling action given the cement slurry causes it to travel circumferentially or helically aroundthe collar and the upper casing sections, insuring a uniform n sheath of cement around the casing string, devoid of channels or other leakage paths.

The outer sleeve 28 offers protection to the rubber back pressure valve 22, insuring against its damage during running of the collar on the casing string into the well bore. Not'only does it insure against its damage, but it functions as the valve device for closing the outer whirler ports 2! upen telescoping of the upper tubular member i9 down along the lower tubular member |21. It is also to be noted that the stop ring 35 not only acts as a positive locating device for insuring the proper initial relationship between the lower end 3l of the outer sleeve 28 and the inclined grooves 33, but also acts as a safety device, preventing unscrewing of the lower tubular member l2 from the upper tubular member Ill and possible separation between the upper and lower casing string portions during running of the entire casing string in the well bore. The stop ring 3S positively prevents any unscrewing action from taking place while permitting the upper tubular member l! and the outer sleeve 28 to be threaded downwardly along the lower tubular member l2, in view of the ample longitudinal space or distance 4Q which is provided between the stop ring 36 and the upper end of the rubber back pressure valve sleeve 22.

The components of the sleeve valve I5 and the trip ball di are preferably made of readily drillable materials to enable such parts to be disintegrated under the action of a drill bit after the cementing operation has been completed, leaving an unobstructed bore through the collar whose inside diameter is preferably no less than the inside diameter of the casing sections B, C

comprising the remainder of the casing string.

It is, accordingly, apparent that a collar device has been provided which can initially andvpositively prevent fluids from passing outwardly through the ports i4, which ports can be opened readily without manipulation of the casing string, through the simple expedient of hydraulically shifting the sleeve valve l5 downwardly, and in which the casing string may be manipulated for the purpose of positively closing the outer ports Y cluding a iirst tubular member, a second tubular member, said tubular members being adapted toy form kpart of a casing string positionable in a weil bore, means providing a connection between said members so that relative rotation therebetween eiects their longitudinal movement with respect to each other, said firstmember having a side port, a sleeve valve within said iirst member disposable over said port to close the same, said r'st member having an externaly valve seat thereon, a second sleeve valve on said second tubular member disposed initially in open position with respect to said port, and means operatively connecting said second sleeve valve and second tubular member to effect engagement of said second sleeve valve with said valve seat in response tol relative rotation between said first and second members to prevent flow of fluid between theinter'ior and exterior of said members.

2. Apparatus of theV character described, including an upper tubular member, a 'lower tubular member threadedly connected to said upper member, said tubular members being adapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore, said lower member having a side port, a rst sleeve valve within said lower member disposable over said port to close the same, means providing an outer iluid passage on said lower member communicable with said port, an external vvalve seat on said lower member below said uid passage, and a second sleeve valve secured to said upper tubular member and disposed around said port and initially inv open position with respect-- to said passage, said second sleeve valve being adapted to engage said seat to close said outer uid passage in response to rotation and downward threading `of said upper tubular member along said lower tubular member.

3. Apparatus Y.of the character described, including tubular means having a side port and adapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore, a portion of said tubular means being movable, a valve within said tubular means for closing said port, a back pressure valve disposed over said port to prevent flow of duid therethrough from the exterior to the interior of said tubular means, means on said tubular means providing an outer fiuid passage through which fluid from Said port may flow to the exterior of said tubular means, an outer valve member movmeans.

4, vApparatus of the character described, including a rst tubular member, a second tubular i memberfsaidtubular `members vbeing adapted to mgform'part of a lcasing string positionable in a well'bore, means providing aconnection between said members so that relative rotation therebetween-eiects their longitudinal movement .with Yrespect toY each other, said first member having a e -side,port, a sleeve valve within said rst member disposable over said port to-close the, same, a

back pressure valve disposed over said port to prevent flow of fluid therethrough-from the ex- V'terior to the interior of said first tubular member,

means on said iirst member providing ari vouter fluid passage through which iluid from said port may ilow to the exterior of said apparatus, and a sleeve valve on and movable withone of ^said tubular members disposed overy said back pressure valve and disposed initially in openY position with respect to said passage and adapted to close said outer fluid passage in'response, to relative rotation between said first and second members.

, on said lower tubular member providing an outer fluid passage through which fluid from said port may flow to the exterior of said apparatus, an

external valve seat on said lower member below said fluid passage, and a second sleeve valve secured to said upper tubular member and disposed around said back pressure valve, said second sleeve valve being disposed initially in open position with respect to said passage and adapted to engage said seat to close said outer uid passage in response to rotation and downward threading of said upper tubular member along said lower tubular member.

6. Apparatus of the character described, in-

. cluding an upper tubular member, a lower tubular member threadedly connected to said up- Vper member, said lower member having a side port, a rst sleeve valve within said lower member disposable over said port to close the same, a

back pressure valve disposed over said port to prevent flow of iiuid therethrough from the exterior to the interior of said lower tubular member, said lower member having an external groove .below said back pressure valve and communicable with said port, an external valve seat on said lower member below said groove, and a second sleeve valve secured to said upper tubular member and disposed around said back pressure valve,

`said second sleeve valve occupying an initial position partly over said groove and adapted to be moved into engagement with said seat to close said groove in response to rotation and downward threading of said upper tubular member along said lower-tubular member.

'7. Apparatus of the character described, including an upper tubular member, a lower tubular member threadedly connected to said upper member, said lower member having a side port, a rst sleeve valve within said lower member disposable over` said port to close the same, said lower member having an external groove below said port and communicable with said port, and a second sleeve valve secured to said upper tu- Y' bular member and disposed aroundsaidport, said second sleeve valve occupyingan initialposition partlyrvover said groove `and adapted to be moved 1completely over said. groove to closethesame in response to rotation anddownward vthreading of said upper tubular. member along said lower tubular member.

8. Apparatus of the character described, including a rst tubular member, a second tubular member, said tubular members being adapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore, means providing a connectionV between said members so that relative rotation therebetween effects their longitudinal `movement with respect to each other, said rst mem- Y ber having va side port, a sleeve valve within said first member disposable over said port toclose the same, vone of said members having anexter- .nal groove spaced longitudinally from said port and communicable with said port, and asleeve valve onxand movable with the other. of said members disposed around said Vport and occupyvzingari initialposition partly over said groove fand. adapted to be moved completely over said -i^gifoove to close the same in response to relative rotation between said first and second members. 9.,'Apparatus of the character described,. in-

., lcluding a-rst tubular member, a second tubular member, saidtubular members being adapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well boreymeans providing a connection between said members so that relative` rotation therebetween yeiectstheir longitudinal movement with respect toyeach other, said'first member having aside f port, a sleeve valve within said first member,

frangiblemeans securing said sleeve valve over said port to close the same, means adapted to be sent down said casing string into engagement with said sleeve valve to enable hydraulic rupturingof said frangible means and shifting of said sleeve valveto port opening position, one of said `members having an external groove spaced longitudinally from said port and communicable with saidportyand a sleeve valve on and movable with the other of. said members disposed around said-port and occupying an initial position partly '-'over said groove. and adapted to be moved comlpletely over said groove to close the same in lresponse toY relative rotation between said first 'and' second members.

l0.-Apparatus ofthe character described, in-

I cluding a Afirst tubular member, a second tubu- 1 lar'member, said tubular members being adapted l to form part of a'casing string positionable in a well bore, means provding a connection l,between f tween effects their longitudinal movement with said members so that relative rotation thereberespect to each other, said iirst member having a side port, a sleeve valve within said rst member .initiallyv disposable over said port to close the same, -means on said rst member providing an l Vouter fluid passage communicable with said port and the exterior of the apparatus, and a sleeve valve on one of said tubular members disposed Y vinitially in position maintaining said outer fluid passage-open and operable for closing said outer -'luidpassage in response to relative rotation between said rst and second members.

- able in a well bore, said first member having a yside port, a sleeve valve within said iirst member initially disposable. over said p ortA to close,the

same, means on said first member providing an outer fluid passage communicable with said port and the exterior of the apparatus, and a sleeve valve on said second tubular member mounted over said port and disposed initially in position maintaining said outer fluid passage open and operable to close said outer fluid passage in response to relative rotation between said rst and second members.

12. Apparatus of the character described, including an upper tubular member, a lower tubular member threadedly connected to said upper member, said tubular members being adapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore, said lower member having a side port. a rst sleeve valve within said lower member initially disposable over said port to close the same, means on said lower member providing an outer fluid passage communicable with said port and the exterior of the apparatus, and a second sleeve valve secured to said upper tubular member and located around said port for disposition initially in position maintaining said outer luid passage open, said second sleeve valve being adapted to close said outer fluid passage in response to rotation and downward threading of said upper tubular member along said lower tubular member.

13. Apparatus of the character described, in-

cluding an upper tubular member, a lower tu-A bular member threadedly connected to said upper member, said tubular members being adapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore, said lower member having a side port, a first sleeve valve within said lower member initially disposable over said port to close the same, means on said lower member providing an outer iiuid passage communicable with said port and with the exterior of the apparatus, an external valve seat on said lower member below said fluid passage, and a second sleeve valve secured to said upper tubular member and disposed around said port, said second sleeve valve being disposed initially in position above said kseat to maintain said outer fluid passage open and being adapted to move downwardly into engagement with said seat to close said outer uid passage in response to rotation and downward threading of said upper tubular member along said lower tu- Y bular member.

Al() communicable with said port, said passage having an outlet below said port, a second valve on said tubular means for closing said outlet, and means providing a connection between said second valve and said movable portion of said tubular means which disposes said second valve initially in open position with respect to said outlet and which enables said second valve to be shifted downwardly to outlet closing position in response to manipport, a second sleeve valve on said tubular means for closing said outlet, and means providing a connection between said second sleeve valve and said movable portion of said tubular means which disposes said second sleeve valve initially in open position with respect to said outlet, and which enables said second sleeve valve to be shifted in response to manipulation and movement of said movable portion of said tubular means to a position closing said outlet.

16. Apparatus of the character described, in-y cluding a rst tubular member, a second tubular member threadedly connected to said rst tubular member by a right-hand threaded connection, said tubular members being adapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore, said rst member having a side port, a sleeve valve within said iirst member disposable over said port to close the same, means on said rst member providing an outer iiuid passage communicable with said port and having an outlet below said port, and a sleeve valve on said second tubular member disposable over said port and movable downwardly to close said outlet in response to relative rotation between said rst and second members.

FRANCIS HAMPTON LEE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,684,551 Manning Sept. 18, 1928 2,201,299 Owsley et al May 2l, 1940 2,214,555 Hayward et al Sept. 10, 1940 2,330,267 Burt et al. Sept. 28, 1943 2,360,311 Ausburn et al. Oct. 17, 1944 2,471,382 Althouse et al May 24, 1949 

